Hounslow Council supports National Breastfeeding Week

Mum’s the word in Hounslow this week as the Council and its partners show their support for National Breastfeeding Week (Sept 18 -24).

The annual event aims to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding. This year’s theme is: everyone has a part to play in helping mums to breastfeed and focuses on how families, communities and services can work together to support mothers in feeding their babies. 

Breastfeeding has a host of benefits for both baby and mum, which include:

• Meeting your baby’s nutritional needs.
• Reducing your baby’s risk of infections and disease.
• Helps to build a strong emotional bond between mother and child. 
• Reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in the mother.

Hounslow Council and its partners are committed to supporting mums who want to breastfeed by creating an environment where they feel comfortable and confident in doing so.

The Council’s Public Health Team is currently working with the borough’s hospitality community to encourage more cafes, restaurants and other venues to include breastfeeding facilities. The long-term aim is to achieve Breastfeeding Friendly status for the borough.

Hounslow Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Transformation, Councillor Samia Chaudhary, said:

“Breastfeeding is a fundamental aspect of infant and maternal health. We must support new mothers in our community by providing access to information, resources, and a supportive environment to make breastfeeding a positive and fulfilling experience for them and their infants. 

"Hounslow Council is proud to be actively participating in National Breastfeeding Week, and we look forward to continuing to build a community that recognises the significance of breastfeeding in nurturing healthy, happy families."

To support new mothers and families in feeding their babies, Hounslow has a network of Baby Cafés which offer free support, information and guidance.

These drop-in sessions are for mums at any stage of their baby feeding journey, from getting ready to feed your baby, right through to weaning and introducing solid foods. 

The Baby Cafés are:

• Every Monday at the Alf King Children’s Centre, Feltham, between 10am and 11.30am.
• Every Wednesday at the Lampton Children’s Centre, Neville Close, Hounslow, between 10am and 12pm.
• Every Thursday at the Ermine Centre, Opossum Way, Hounslow, between 10am and 11.30am.
• Every Thursday at South Isleworth Children’s Centre, between 10am and 11,30am.

There is further feeding support at Twickenham Baby Cafe every Tuesday at United Reformed Church, Twickenham between 1pm and 3pm.

One mum described her experience at the Baby Café: “I had great support from the Breastfeeding Counsellor and the other mums. They really knew what I was going through.”

Find out more about Hounslow’s Baby Cafés here.